'Sonia Gandhi has no real love for India': Congress' three-time MP Krishna Kumar on joining BJP
As the third phase of Lok Sabha election is scheduled for April 23, a set back has come for the Congress party as a three-time Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Dr S Krishna Kumar has joined the BJP in presence of party leaders Shahnawaz Hussain and Anil Baluni.
In the press conference held in New Delhi, Kumar praised PM Narendra Modi and said, “As a developmental activist, I have appreciated the depth of knowledge, attention to detail, and the political will of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have decided to devote the rest of my life as a soldier of Narendra Modi.”
Krishna Kumar, who was a 1963 batch IAS officer, has been instrumental in progression of the UPA in Kerala and the United Democratic Front. But, his departure will create a void for the party, as the polling in Kerala’s 20 Lok Sabha seats is scheduled to take place on April 23.
Delhi: S Krishna Kumar, former Congress MP from Kollam (Kerala), joins Bharatiya Janata Party pic.twitter.com/v5374QVaKb
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019
Kumar, while recalling his stint at the grand old party said, “I was a three-time Congress MP, but during UPA's time, I was against the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and now I am against the leadership of her son. I was a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi, but I feel that after him desh-bhakt (patriot) Prime Minister should run this country.”
For the Congress, Kerala has become a centre point since Rahul Gandhi announced his candidature from Wayanad, other than his traditional Amethi seat. Priyanka Gandhi has been campaigning for brother Rahul since last two days in Kerala and the Left parties have declared that they will defeat the Congress in its backyard and thus, the Opposition unity seems to be in tandem.
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First published: 21 April 2019, 10:57 IST